Caution: Girl Stuff

[lindyhop]

I've experienced the joys of hot flashes during my period...whee!


Somehow I thought it would be an either/or situation.

[innerSpaceman]

What's with the big fear about hormone treatments? Newsflash, everyone ... by the time you're forty, most of your hormones have long gone, and the rest are on the fast track to nowhere-to-be-found. Once your hormones go, old age is fast-tracked.

Hormone replacement therapy is a godsend. Bioidentical stuff is the best, and it's going to be the Ponce de Leon for those who are smart enough and rich enough to do it wisely ... but DO IT.

[Alex]

At least for the menopausal HRT, the National Cancert Institute disagrees with you iSm, with significant increases in breast cancer risk, heart disease, and blot clots.

It may not generalize to all hormone replacement therapies (including bioidentical) and the studies aren't published yet, but I think there's valid reason to be concerned.

[MouseWife]

I don't have hormones? Well then WTF is my problem????

But, really, while I have considered doing it for convenience sake, I hear the warnings about how if you have not taken bc pills before {along with warnings about smoking, etc.} you probably should not start. That must mean something.

I don't know what....

[wendybeth]

I was (finally) diagnosed with estrogen intolerance a few years back, which explained why I had such a horrid time with the Pill and PMS. I still (at 43) get severe PMS symptoms, but the doc prescribed appropriate meds (not hormones) to help and I haven't killed anyone- yet.

Hormones may be a godsend to some, but to me they're my worst nightmare. I know menopause will probably be a relief, but for now I'm sticking with the devil I know.

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

What's with the big fear about hormone treatments? Newsflash, everyone ... by the time you're forty, most of your hormones have long gone, and the rest are on the fast track to nowhere-to-be-found. Once your hormones go, old age is fast-tracked.

Hormone replacement therapy is a godsend. Bioidentical stuff is the best, and it's going to be the Ponce de Leon for those who are smart enough and rich enough to do it wisely ... but DO IT.

It was a blessing to me for sure-

I had cancer at 30- treatment caused menopause. I went through over a year of hotflash misery before getting on HRT and I am SO much happier.

The Dr told me that I had to- because of my age if I had gone all those years without replacing those hormones I would do horrible damage to my bones, my body--not good.

Oddly enough being on HRT REDUCES my chances of getting the very cancer that caused the problem in the first place.

[~MS~]

Coming into the convo a bit late, but put me in the go see a OB/Gyn and discuss it with someone who 'specializes' in the field. I don't have to worry/deal with the issue but I have to make the decisions for Brandy and right now we have her on Depo, she's one of the really lucky ones that she has no period, none, I schedule her shot exactly 12 weeks apart to the day and she doesn't even have a mild discharge, she still PMS's a bit each month and it's more noticible the month she is due to get her shot. As for the no period issue, the three specialists we consulted over her all agreed. There really is no "need" for any of us to cycle and bleed unless we're actively attempting to get pregnant. The b/c of choice be it pill or shot or novo ring all create a balance that eliminates the 'need'. Having said that, I also know that the docs were very agressive in checking Brandys total chem pannels and blood levels the first couple of years we put her on the shot due to the potential interaction with her other medications.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by ~MS~

...right now we have her on Depo.

I don't know a lot about this as my daughter is older and I wasn't privy to chosing her BC.

She had been on it for a few years, gosh, maybe 4 or 5. {not sure} Well, she happened to switch ob/gyn and when they found out how long she'd been on it they immediately told her to stop taking it. According to this new doctor, Depro {gosh, you said Depo, is it the same thing? Or not?} can only be taken for a short time. Well, to them that is a couple of years. They made her have a bone density test because they said it could effect your bones.

Just thought I'd share it but then I might have the name wrong....are there two types with similar names????

She also loved it, by the way. Either no periods or very very light ones.

I also think it helped her with PMS but I'm not going to say THAT out loud.

CP~I've been married 24 years...I say, give me a break!! {oh, but if for BC, that is another matter....}

Damn, I hope my kids don't read this thread....

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by MouseWife

Damn, I hope my kids don't read this thread....

LOL! I suspect if they do, and get to your post, they will quickly exit.

[Mousey Girl]

I am not a good candidate for HRT. My mom had a double masectomy at 46. I have already dealt with cervical cancer. It is just something that, with my family history, no sane Dr would ever want to prescribe.